The Guy That Snatched My Sunglasses Off My Face

Posted on by Eric Spiegel
1.12.84.ES .StreetPhotography.DC 022 Edit The Guy That Snatched My Sunglasses Off My Face

The photo I shot wasn’t even really good. My flash failed to fire.

Two Sundays ago, after I finished shooting the Fiesta DC latino festival in Penn Quarter, I walked up to meet my wife in Chinatown.  Being the street photographer that I am, I had my camera out, snapping away as I walked up 7th St NW.  As I walked by the McDonalds in Chinatown, I saw a man running my direction.  I pull up my camera and take a photo as he passed by.  I kept walking, thinking nothing of it really, until I heard someone speaking to me.

“Where I’m from people ask permission before taking someone’s photo.”

Great, this guy is gonna give me crap for taking a photo in a public place.  I respond by just saying “OK” as I continued to walk up 7th St.  After I respond, he asks me to delete the photo.  I told him that I wish I could, but as I shoot film, that was impossible.  He then demanded that I give him my film.

When I declined that request, he again demanded me to give him my film.  I told him again that I wasn’t going to do that and kept walking.

At this point he threatened me.  ”If you don’t give me that film, things are going to get violent.”

I responded, saying, “If you do that, you’ll be arrested for assault.  Why don’t we just walk up a little further and see what the police think.”

Him:  ”You saw me running earlier, so you know I don’t have a problem with running.”

I continue walking away when he finally stepped in my path, and bumped me with his forearm.  Immediately I put up my hands and told him to not touch me.

As I tried to step around him, he then grabbed my prescription sunglasses off my face and sprinted down 7th towards the Verizon Center.  I yell back, calling him an asshole, and walked towards 7th and H, where I knew lots of cops tended to mill about. Luckily, I had my regular glasses in my camera bag.

When I couldn’t find a cop, I walked into MPD’s Asian Liasion Unit looking for help.  Since it was late on a Sunday, that office was desserted.  I was about to look up MPD’s phone number when I saw two cops across the street dealing with another issue.

I walked up and told them I needed to report a robbery and assault.  They asked me to recount my story and give a description of my attacker.  Flabbergasted at what happened to me, one officer asked me to hop in his cruiser and we circled the block looking for him.

No luck there.

As the other officer took down my info, a call came on the radio came stating someone matching this guy’s description was found.  I hopped in the officer’s cruiser again and went to see if I could ID the guy.  They happened to get the wrong guy.  He did match my description, but it was the wrong guy.

When the officer returned me to Chinatown, he gave me all the technical info (case number and such) about the incident.  I can follow up once I develop my film and hand over a my photo of the guy to the investigating officer.  Also, I was told a detective would look up surveillance video (thanks Big Brother) to see if they could ID the guy, hoping he may be a regular that they may be able to recognize.

I asked the officer if there was anything I could do to have made the situation better or at least know what to do differently if something like this happens again.  He told me its just best to apologize and just walk away and try to flag down a cop if possible.  But the key is to just get away, because, as he succinctly put it, “I’ve seen people get stabbed or worse for much much less.”

I was really impressed by the was MPD handled the case.  I felt like it was their concern to find the guy and they genuinely wanted to catch him.  Both officers I dealt with were very professional and incredibly nice and at no time did they try to blame me because I happened to take his photo.

The whole incident just irritates me more than anything.  I ultimately just felt like a kid getting bullied on the schoolyard.  Even to the point of the bully humiliating me because I wore glasses.  He might as well yelled, “Neener-neener neener,” as he ran away.

In the meantime, if you see this guy around DC, please call MPD (202.698.0555) and report his location in reference to case number CCN 134-732.

 

1.12.84.ES .StreetPhotography.DC 022 Edit 2 The Guy That Snatched My Sunglasses Off My Face



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  • happyindc

    I do a lot of street photo work in this area. It’s generally a good area for it. I love the crowds and street activity. There are so many tourist snapping away that you can just blend in. Your account is disturbing. Sorry you went through it.

  • L A Cochran

    Interesting. You took his photo and he got violent. Now, you’ve used his photo on a blog to try to hold him accountable. Wonder how he’ll react when word gets to him. After all, you’re not anonymous. Now, I’m not saying he shouldn’t be held accountable for his behavior. I just wonder at the wisdom of exposing yourself to god knows what now. Perhaps, this kind of previous behavior on his part is exactly why he didn’t want a picture on the internet. Hmmm. Good luck to you and yours.

    • Typical DC BS

      Maybe he’s not afraid like you are. Take a good look at the doofus in the Jets jersey. Real tough guy – nice hair, fairy.

  • TJ

    Based off your previous post, (http://www.ericspiegelphotography.com/2011/07/21/how-a-photograph-got-me-assaulted/), you sound like an asshole. Sure, you’re legally in the right, but still an asshole. Happy your glasses got stolen.

  • TJ

    Based off your previous post, http://www.ericspiegelphotography.com/2011/07/21/how-a-photograph-got-me-assaulted/, you sound like an asshole. Sure, you’re legally in the right, but still an asshole. Happy your glasses got stolen.

    • Typical DC BS

      TJ – from one asshole to another, right?

  • Guest

    I KNOW THAT GUY!! HIS NAME IS NICK MANGOLD

    • Typical DC BS

      That’s funny!

  • Jnithe

    You kind of sound like a whiny bitch. Don’t take random people’s photographs without asking them for permission first. Yes you were in a public place but obviously some people have a problem with it. Either ask for permission or be able to delete it iimmediately if they ask.

    • Typical DC BS

      Jnithe – want some cheese with your whine? Do you typically break camera lenses when you’re picture is taken cause you’re so ugly? Is that “disrespect” to you, some loser street twat?

  • frank_b81

    TJ = Loser + Troll
    Jnithe = Loser + Troll
    L A Cochran = Moron

    So sad that you Americans get violent for having your pictures taken. Is your lives so pathetic & criminal that you can not even share your public “image” with others? Living in Japan [FYI the MOST PHOTOGRAPHIC country in the world] the people there have no problems with having their photos taken. Heck, even some “pose” when they realize they are being photographed. They live just lives and have nothing to hide! It’s the same with Singapore, Korea and parts of China. Yes there are limits and photographers do respect them the way Eric does [Yes I know of him from flickr] and I like his work. To all you haters I say get a life! Better yet live a just life! Hacks me to no end how much hate you folks have for recording life the way Eric does. But hey! I’m not a criminal like TJ, Jnithe & L A Cochran! Yes, I call you out! Photographers have rights. It’s the paparazzi that give us street photographers a bad name.

    • TJ

      Pretty sure I said he was legally in the right. But legally right doesn’t mean he’s not a asshole. Especially with regard to the guy sitting on the bench.

      In his words: “I had turned the corner and saw the man sitting on the bench with his hands behind his head, relaxing … so as I walked by I crouched down and photographed him.”

      Doesn’t sound like he’s respecting limits to me.

      • Typical DC BS

        You’re just a pussy TJ. Maybe you think he should have gotten money too, right? You and his ugly mugs probably think you’re good looking also.

        • Atypicaldc

          huh? why don’t you post you pic with this ignorant remark?

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  • bln

    wait, so was there ever an apology on your part? you, sir, are the asshole. it’s one thing to take random pictures of unknowing subjects. it becomes problematic once the subject knows. you violated him. he retaliated. you took your asshole-ry further by involving the cops. and yet further by posting the guy’s photograph on your website. allow me to reiterate that you, sir, are the (only) asshole in this situation.

  • Seriously

    You talk about being a Christian and say that this jogger asked for your film / card. If you were following the teachings of Christ, you would have given him that and then offered to give him your camera and glasses. … You know that you can’t use these so-called street photos. for commercial purposes. I guess you don’t care though since you figure the OldTown Crier will defend you.

  • http://www.facebook.com/anarchocurmudgeon Doug Anderson

    Why is it that when people see us with a camera they think we’re doing something bad?
    If I were a pervert or a cop you’d never see me taking the photo.

    • http://www.ericspiegelphotography.com/ Eric Spiegel

      Yeah, I’m not really sure why. I think people are becoming more and more concerned with privacy, but only selectively. If they see someone on the street they can berate or bully, then alls fair. But if there’s a CCTV or other security cameras in public spaces they don’t balk.